It would be easy to say ‘The whole country told you so.’ But I think Steve McClaren finally realised against Andorra what everyone knew - that Steven Gerrard must always play in central midfield for England.

Muddled Mac also had it drummed home to him in England's 3-0 victory that Gerrard is a match winner, something else that we’ve all known for years.

I have to admit I am not a tactical genius when it comes to football (how many women are, for goodness sake?). But Gerrard’s scoring ratio of exactly one goal every four games (14 in 56 internationals) is as good as many an England striker in recent years. Not quite in the same league, perhaps, as the Anfield skipper's 2005-06 record of 23 in 53 games for Liverpool - but without Wednesday night’s double England would already be as good as out of Euro 2008.

'At least McClaren is finally getting the message that Gerrard is by far his most potent midfield weapon -- when he’s used in the right place'


Stevie G’s superb double in a man-of-the-match performance against the Andorrans also told us once and for all that Steven Gerrard MBE (Must Be Eng-cluded) can never be dropped. If he and Frank Lampard can’t hit it off together, then the Chelsea man has to be Lamped -- bad wrist or not.

At least McClaren is finally getting the message that Gerrard is by far his most potent midfield weapon -- when he’s used in the right place.

"I thought Stevie really stepped forward tonight,’’ the England boss said after the game. ‘’You need that character in a team and he did it tonight. We said to the players at half-time you’ve got to show real guts and character in the second-half because of the conditions on and off the field. And they coped with it, got stronger and better.’’

The first half was so dire that at one point I changed channels to watch the meaningless Wales v San Marino game. But for all their bitty play and ineptitude in front of goal, England did at least create enough chances to have gone in comfortably ahead at the break.

The visible fury of England’s fist-waving fans as the players left the pitch at half-time could also have worked in a negative way -- and seen McClaren’s strugglers fall apart altogether. But to their credit, they kept battling and one could see the relief both on and off the pitch when Gerrard’s opener hit the net.

So McClaren lives to bungle another day. "That’s football, you cannot please everybody,’’ he said of the fans‘ half-time fury. ‘’But the players gave everything. Yes, they were a little short on confidence but they never stopped going and showed guts and got their rewards. I am proud of them.’’

That goes particularly for the bravery of Paul Robinson, the loneliest person in the entire stadium. Did he actually touch the ball?

What did you make of England’s performance against Andorra? Let Sportingo have your views.